Laundering-aid dispensing means for clothes washing machines



J-PELENSKY May 2, 1961 LAUNDERING-AID DISPENSING MEANS FOR CLOTHESWASHING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2, 1958 llllllllllllill y.MM R

Mm IH o/ nv J. V. B

J. Pl-:Ll-:NSKY 2,982,120

LAUNDERING-AID DISPENSING MEANS EOE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES May 2, 19612 sheets-sheet 2V Filed Sept. 2, 1958 lll INVENToR. 'Jox/OH Pa N5/WHT'ORNEY Patented May 2,` 1961 LAUNDERrNG-AID DISPENSING MEANS FokCLOTHES wAsHlNG MACHINES Filed sept. z, 195s, ser. No. 758,459

6 claims. (cms-.201)

The present invention relates to zlaundering machines, particularly toclothes washing machines of automatic type in whichclothes are washedand rinsed in water by movement of an agitator withinl a basket, and inwhich water is extracted from the clothes by rotation of the basket atcentrifuging speed. i

. While of broader applicability, the invention has to do withlaundering-aid dispensing means adapted particularly for associationwith automatic washing machines of the mono-directional or Wobblingagitator variety wherein washing and rinsing of the clothes isaccomplished by function of an agitator of suitable configurato water inthe wash basket is reached in the course of the cyclic operation ofthemachine, said device being constructed and arranged to insure mixing ofthe water with the material before the latter passes into said basket.

A characteristic feature of the invention resides in the fact that thenovel device adapted to contain and distion journalled on an obliquelydisposed member which .Y

`forms part of. a rotatable eccentric drivel mechanism.' The agitatorisheld against rotation by means of a ilexible sleeve or boot connected tosaid agitator and to the wash basket, and continuous unidirectionalrotation of the eccentric drive Vmechanism imparts wobbling orcyclically recurring tilting motion to the agitator thereby causing theclothes to be brought into 4intimate contact with turbulent streams ofwater generated by the moving agitator structure.

Apparatus of this general class is disclosed and claimed in thecopending applications of George `C. Fields, Serial No. 733,952 liledMay8, 1958 (now Patent No. 2,902,- 852, issued September 8, 1959),- andSerial No. 702,362 filed December 12, 1957 (now `Patent No. 2,902,851,issued September 8, 1959), each assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention. Y Y

Automatic washing machines including those of the above-speciiiedvariety, function first to wash clothes in water contained within thewash basket, then to extract the wash water from the clothes in thebasket, thereafter to rinse the clothes in water freshly supplied tothebasket, and finally. to extract the rinse water from the clothes andbasket. Better rinsing of the clothes is obtained when a rinsing-agent(for example `a water softening liquid or solution) is added to therinse water, and it is desirable that the rinsing liquid or solution beautomatically introduced into the wash basket, when the latter is filledwith water and the machine has started its rinsing operation. v p

Difficulties and problems have been experienced in attempting to providethe mentioned mono-directional or wobbling-agitator type washingmachines with means for automatically dispensing rinsing-agent, and itis an object of this invention to overcome these difficulties andproblems by providing a simplified device for use with such a machine.

It is a more general object of this invention to provide alaundering-aid dispensing device of compact construction which makes itpossible to associate the device with the agitator structure of anautomatic washing machine so as not to interfere with access to the Washbasket. Y

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a deviceadapted to retain laundering-aid material until the properV time foraddition of said material pense a liquid rinsing-agent, is also adaptedto contain washing-aid either in the form of powder or in the form ofliquid, and to dispense the washing-aid when mixed with water from thewash basket.

t A device constructed in accordance with said invention, is furthercharacterized in that no movable element operable in response tospinning of the tub is required to effect transfer of laundering-aidmaterial from one to another portion of the device.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the device of this inventionincludes a hollow member adapted for association and movement withthe'agitator post structure of an automatic Washing machine. A firstreceptacle occupies an upper portion of said member and is adapted toretain laundering-aid liquid during the washing operation and has meansfor ejecting said liquid into said member during the extractionoperation of the machine. A second receptacle is disposed to receive theejected laundering-aid liquid as well as water which fills the basketand thus provides for mixing of said liquid with Water for passage intosaid basket. This second receptacle is constructed and arranged toreceive the 1aundering-aid liquid following the termination of thespinning operation which causes said liquid to be transferred from therst receptacle into a receiving chamber of the mentioned member. Thearrangement of this invention further includes a plate-like elementwhich flares outwardly from the agitator post structure and movestherewith. This plate-like element functions during agitation to causewater within the washing basket to circulate in and out of the devicethrough a filter screen constructed and arranged to intercept lint orother foreign material carried lin the circulating water The full natureof the invention and the manner in which its objects and advantages areachieved, will be fully understood from the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wobble type washing machineembodying the present invention, certain parts being broken away forillustration purposes; Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational-sectional view 4of the agitatorstructure illustrated in Figure 1 and shows the preferred constructionof a dispenser device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 3l is a sectional View looking in the general direction of arrows3a-3 in Figure 2 and drawn on a larger scale; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view, on a still larger scale, of thedispenser device illustrated in Figure 2.

With moreparticular reference to the drawings, Figure 1 illustratesthose elements of an automatic clothesV washing machine which arenecessary for an understanding of the invention. The machine itself isof the known wobble type including an outer cabinet 1) housing a lixedtub 11 which encirclesa rotatable wash basket 12. The basket 12 is ofcylindrical configuration having an inwardly extending peripheral Wallportion 13 preventing the escape of the clothes over the top edge of thebasket during spinning thereof. As shown, the clothes basket 12preferably comprises a foraminous inner shell 1.4 backed by a spacedcasing 15 which is imperforate except for a row of overflow ports orapertures 16. The shell 14 permits sediment carried by the water to passinto the space between said shell and the casing 15 and to escape thewash/basket without redea positing on the clothes during theextraction'cycle,

As seen in Figures 1 and 2, a wobbling agitator assembly 18 is mountedwithin the wash basket 12. As more clearly appears in Figure 2, theouter casing 15 of said basket is conveniently provided with a`depressed portion 19 through which a drive shaft 2t) and associatedmechanism extend. Thisshaft 20 is coupled through the usual crankmechanism with an agitator shaft extension 21 and with an agitator plate22. This arrangement, on rotation of the shaft 20, produces oscillatoryor gyrating rotation of the shaft extension 21 which in turn imparts aprogressive substantially nonrotative wobbling or undulatory motion tothe agitator assembly. Rotative movement of the agitator assembly withrespect to the casing 15 is prevented by means of a fluid-tight iiexibleand resilient diaphragm 23 interconnecting said casing 15- with theagitator base 24, the latter being mounted in any convenient manner.Details of the agitator structure and its driving crank mechanism havenot been shown and are not described herein inasmuch as they are itemsto which no claim of invention is made herein. Reference may be made tothe aforesaid copending applications for arrangements which may beadapted for the purposes of the present invention.

Briefly stated, the operation of the machine is as follows. After thebasket 12 is filled with water to a level determined by the apertures16, the agitator structure or assembly 18 is activated with respect tothe basket to effect washing of the clothes. At the conclusion of thewashing cycle, the basket and agitator are rotated in unison at highspeed for the purpose of centrifugally extracting the wash water fromthe clothes and expelling the water from the basket through theapertures 16. After this extraction, high speed rotation of the basketand agitator ceases, the basket is filled with a fresh supply of waterand the agitator structure is again activated in the basket to effectrinsing of the clothes. Finally, following the rinsing cycle, the basketand agitator are once again rotated at high speed for a period of timesufficiently long to extract the rinse water and spin dry the clothes.

In particular accordance with the present invention and as clearlyillustrated in Figure 2, the washing machine is provided with a hollowcolumn 25 and with a dispenser device generally indicated at 28. Thecolumn 25 is formed with a reentrant portion 26 fitting over the shaftextension 21 to move in unison therewith. The column 25 serves toprevent clothes from covering the agitator assembly proper, therebysmothering the agitating action. The column also serves to house thedispenser device 28.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, this device 28 comprises anelongated tubular member 30 adapted t0 fit within the column 25 so thatthe reentrant portion 26 of said column passes into said member. The topportion 31 of the member 30 is open, and a first receptacle 32 is snuglyreceived and supported in said top portion to occupy an upper part ofsaid member. The first receptacle 32 is closed by means of a cover 33having a rim 34, the marginal edge of which rests upon the marginalportion of the mentioned open portion 31 of the member 30.

Another or second receptacle 35 is supported as by means or ribs 36,outwardly of the member 30 and is thereby suspended below said member inalignment with the open bottom portion 37 thereof. The second receptacle35 is formed with a tubular portion 38 which as best seen in Figure 3,extend laterally from said stem 43 and are adapted for engagement withrecesses 45 in the upper marginal edge of said reentrant portion 38. Inorder to provide for engagement and disengagement of the filter orscreen device, the mentioned reentrant portion 38 is formed withchannels 46, into and out of which said projections 44 slide.

As seen in Figures-1 and 2, the wall of the column 25 is provided with aseries of parallel slots 47 through which water passes into the secondreceptacle 35 and filter 4f) and out through ports 48 in the bottom ofsaid column. The passage of water into and out of the dispenser deviceis effected by means of a anged disc or inverted plate 49 which isattached to and depends from the bottom of the column 25 and which,during wobbling motion of the agitator assembly, acts to circulate waterfrom the wash basket through said device.

As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, the tubular member 30 has anenlarged section which defines a chamber 5f) about the first receptacle32. This chamber is in communication with the interior of said firstreceptacle 32 through openings 51 in the wall thereof.

In use, the device 28 is snugly seated within the hollow column on theagitator assembly 18. Before or during filling of the washing basket 12with water, a measured quantity of washing-aid may be placed in thedevice. For that purpose the first receptacle 32 is removed and thewashing-aid material is poured into the member through the open top 31thereof. The washing-aid material which may be either in the form ofpowder or in the form of liquid, runs into the lower second receptacle35 and is retained therein. Also a measured quantity of liquidrinsing-agent isrpoured into the first receptacle 32, pouring of therinsing-agent being facilitated by providing its cover 33` with afunnel-shaped opening 52. The basket 12 is filled with water to a levelwhere, at the start of the washing operation, water flows through theslots 47 of the column 25 into the second receptacle 35 and mixes withthe washing-aid material therein, the mixture then passing into thebasket. Gyratory motion of the device 28 with the agitator assemblycauses water to circulate as indicated by the How arrows in Figure 2,the mixture of water and washing-aid being thus caused to circulate withthe water through the filter screen 40. In this manner, the filterscreen retains improperly dissolved powdered soap or detergent andprevents it from passing into the wash basket.

During the washing operation the liquid-rinsing agent is retained in thefirst receptacle 32, but following the washing operation, high speedrotation of the device with spinning of the basket and agitator toextract the washing water, causes the liquid to be ejected from saidcontainer 32 through the openings 51 and into the chamber 50 where saidliquid remains during high speed rotation. When high speed rotationceases, the rinsing-agent flows into and remains within the secondreceptacle 35. Rinsing water which fills the tub fiows into `said secondreceptacle 35 and mixes with the liquid rinsing-agent, the mixture beingdischarged from said second receptacle into the wash basket as theagitator resumes its wobbling motion for rinsing the clothes in saidbasket.

Because of the slots 47 in the column 25, water is constantly presentwithin said column during motion of the device so that there is createda pump-like action which causes water to circulate through the filter40. In this manner the filter effectively serves to remove lint andother foreign matter from the circulating water.

After each use the device can be thoroughly cleaned by removing it fromthe column 25, and flushing it with clear water. The first receptacle 32can also be removed for thorough cleaning and the filter screen 40 canbe detached from its operative position so that any accumulation of lintand other matter removed from the water can be washed away readily.

From the foregoingv description, it will be appreciated wat..

.assenso l vvv has been shown and described, it is to be understood thatthe invention embraces such changes and modifications liquid -to thewater in said basket, said device comprising Y a hollow post mounted onsaid extended shaft and disposed to be partially submerged in waterwithin said basket, means for circulating water from said basket throughsaid post,said means including upper'and lower series of openings insaid post, an elongated tubular member received within said post, and apair of receptacles, each having a closed lower portion for retainingsaid liquid, one of said receptacles being supported within said memberat the upper end portion thereof and having a row of circumferentiallyarranged apertures through which said liquid passes into said member inresponse to rotation of the basket and agitator assembly, the other ofsaid receptacles depending from the lower end portion of said member toreceive said liquid from the latter upon deceleration of the basket andagitator, said other of said receptacles being disposed at a levelbetween said upper and lower series of openings to be liooded `by waterpassing through said post.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, in which the mentioned tubularmember is provided with an internal chamber, the mentioned apertures ofthe mentioned one of the receptacles discharging into said chamber.

3.` A device as setforth in claim 1, in which ilter means is detachablycarriedby the mentioned member and is disposed within the mentioned postbetween the mentioned upper and lower series of openings to filter thewater passing through said post.

4. In an automatic clothes washing machine wherein a water extractingoperation is followed by a clothes rinsing operation, the combination ofa wash basket adapted to spin for water extracting operation and adapted6 to be lled with water to a predetermined level for clothes rinsingoperation, an agitator assembly mounted within said basket and includinga shaft extension projectin'g upwardly in said basket, said assemblybeing adapted to rotate with said basket during said extracting.operation and to move with respect to said basket during said Arinsingoperation, a hollow rvpost mounted on said extension and disposed to bepartially submerged in the water within said basket, means forcirculating water from said basket through said post, an elongatedtubular member received within said post, a rst receptacle suspendedwithin an upper portion of said member, said first receptacle having -aclosed lower portion -to retain rinsing-agent liquid and having meansfor passing said liquid into said member in response to rotation of saidbasket and agitator assembly, a second receptacle carried by said memberand suspended below the lower portion of said member to receive theliquid rinsing-agent from the latter at the termination of saidextracting operation, said second receptacle also having a closed lowerportion to retain said liquid and being disposed at a level to beflooded by the water passing through said post.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4, in which ports are provided inwall portions of the mentioned hollow post, and an outwardly flaringdisc is carried by said post to effect circulation of water from thewash basket into said post through said ports.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4, in which ports are provided inwall portions of the mentioned hollow post, an outwardly aring disc iscarried by said post to effect circulation of water from the wash basketinto said post through said ports, and iilter means disposed within saidpost and in the path of the circulating water to filter the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

